Paris – City Performance, Brand Strength and Reputation

Paris: the capital of France, is one of the best-known cities and among the most popular tourist destinations worldwide. It has, for centuries, been a global reference for culture, travel, art, and commerce. Events such as the yearly Fashion Week, the defining COP21 summit, and the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games guarantee continued international attention.

But what do leading rankings say about the reputation of Paris, its innovation capacity, attractiveness for investors and talent, and its urban sustainability?

Let’s take a closer look at:

• Economic competitiveness and financial performance
• City brand strength and global reputation
• Livability and urban sustainability

Economic Competitiveness and Financial Performance

The Global Financial Centres Index 34 ranks Paris 15^th, falling one position from the previous ranking. It is currently positioned between Frankfurt (14^th) and Luxembourg (16^th). Paris ranked as the 10^th centre most likely to become more significant. It ranks 14^th in the Business Environment area of competitiveness. It also performs well in the Banking sector, ranking 15^th. The French capital holds the 4^th position in the Western European region.

According to 2thinknow’s Innovation Cities Index 2022-2023, Paris ranks 4^th, a jump of six positions from the previous ranking. The city now sits between New York (3^rd) and Singapore (5^th).

City Brand Strength and Global Reputation

According to Brand Finance’s City Index 2023, Paris ranks 3^rd globally with a score of 79.7/100, positioned between New York City (2^nd) and Los Angeles (4^th). Paris is ranked as the world’s 2^nd most familiar city and 3^rd best city to visit. It also ranks 1^st in the Culture & Heritage pillar. The French capital performs strongly in People & Values, ranking 2^nd globally, but falls short on the friendliness pillar where it ranks 25^th.

Resonance’s 2023 World’s Best Cities Report ranks Paris 2^nd, with the following scores in the Place Power Score subfactors: 14^th in Prosperity, 3^rd in Lovability, and 2^nd in Livability. It also ranks 1^st in the Place Power Highlights for Sights and Landmarks and Walking Score. Paris currently sits just behind London (1^st), and above New York City (3^rd).

Kearney’s 2023 Global Cities Report continues to rank Paris 3^rd. The city also ranks 5^th in the Global Cities Outlook, a drop of three positions since the previous ranking.

The comprehensive Global Power City Index ranks Paris 4^th. In terms of function-specific rankings, the city ranks 16^th in Economy, 9^th in R&D, 3^rd in Cultural Interaction, 1^st in Livability, 27^th in Environment, and 5^th in Accessibility. It ranks 15^th in Variety of Workplace Options, 4^th in Winners of Prizes in Science and Technology, 12^th for Nightlife Options, 1^st for Number of Retail Shops, 38^th for Urban Greenery, and 43^rd for Average Driving Speed. Lastly, the city is positioned 3^rd for Highly Skilled Workers, 7^th for Corporate Executives, 6^th for Residents, and 3^rd for Tourism.

How Attractive as a City to Live, Work, and Study?

The Mercer Quality of Living City Ranking places Paris 32^nd, between Nuremberg (31^st) and Toulouse (33^rd). The Mercer Cost of Living Ranking ranks Paris 35^th, behind Helsinki (34^th) and above Guangzhou (36^th). The cost of living survey reports that factors such as currency fluctuations, cost inflation for goods and services, and instability of accommodation prices are key in determining the cost of expat packages for employees on international assignments.

According to the Best Urban Cities for Digital Nomads ranking by Spot a Home, Paris ranks 48^th out of 56 global cities. It currently sits between Milan (47^th) and Oslo (49^th).

Lastly, the French capital is home to some of the best universities in the world. According to The Times Higher Education ranking, Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL) ranks 40^th, Université Paris-Saclay ranks 58^th, Institut Polytechnique de Paris ranks 71^st, and Sorbonne University 75^th. The QS World University ranking ranks PSL in 24^th, Institut Polytechnique de Paris in 38^th, Sorbonne University 59^th, and Université Paris-Saclay 71^st.

Urban Sustainability

The Arcadis Sustainability City Index 2022 ranks Paris 8^th overall, between Seattle (7^th) and San Francisco (9^th). Its pillar rankings are as follows: Planet 2^nd, People 43^rd, and Profit 31^st.

Last updated in January 2024. Explore more city profiles here.

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Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended to provide a general overview of Paris’s economic and cultural landscape and facilitate comparison over time. While we strive for accuracy and completeness, we are not responsible for any typographical errors or inaccuracies. The data is provided ‘as is’ without warranty of any kind. Users should verify any information before relying on it for decision-making purposes.